Multiple sim card secure global mobile device

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to electronic and global communication systems, devices, and methods resulting from the realization that global usage of mobile phones may be made easier and more secure by providing a system and method which have multiple subscriber identification modules (SIMs) cards including domestic and international SIM cards that enable businessmen, politicians and others to stay connected with their co-workers when traveling abroad by receiving calls and emails without paying high roaming and international fees.

PRIORITY DATA

This patent application is a non-provisional patent application andclaims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to: U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/559,066 titled Secure Global Mobile Phone, filedNov. 12, 2011, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.61/564,820 titled Secure Global Mobile Phone, filed Nov. 29, 2011 whichare hereby incorporated by reference as if fully stated herein.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to electronics systems, andmore specifically to global communications systems and devices forconnecting thereto.

BACKGROUND

As globalization continues to grow, people, including businessmen,politicians, and others are required to travel internationally at anincreasing rate. While in foreign countries, especially on businesstrips, people are required to stay connected with their co-workers, andbe able to receive calls and e-mails.

Accordingly, many people purchase secondary, international, phones whiletraveling abroad, or purchase international SIM cards for use in theirphones while traveling abroad. This allows people to communicate withtheir friends, family, and co-workers, and access the internet ande-mail as well when data plans are purchased. The issue with thesesolutions is that people must adopt a new phone number while travelingin the country, and those numbers change when they travel from countryto country. If users would like to retain use of their domestic, normalphone number, then they must pay high roaming and international fees.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The various embodiments of systems and methods described herein resultfrom the realization that global usage of mobile phones may be madeeasier and more secure by providing a system and method related to amobile phone have multiple SIM cards, including a domestic SIM card andan international SIM card.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a system in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram representing an apparatus in accordancewith one embodiment;

FIG. 3 shows a system in accordance with yet another embodiment;

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram depicting a method in accordance with oneembodiment; and

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram depicting a non-transitory computerreadable medium in accordance with one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a system 100 in accordance with one embodiment, whereinsystem 100 comprises at least one processor 102, at least one displaymeans 104 electronically connected to at least one processor 102, atleast one communications means 106 electronically connected to at leastone processor 102, wherein said communications means 106 is operative toconnect to a wireless communications network, at least one means 108 foraccepting at least two subscriber identification modules, and computerexecutable instructions (not shown), operative to determine whether atleast one local subscriber identification module 110 and at least oneglobal subscriber identification module 112 are present in the at leastone means for accepting at least two subscriber identification modules108, wherein the at least one local subscriber identification module 110is assigned to a traditional phone number and the at least one globalsubscriber identification module 112 is assigned to a unique globalphone number; receive or transmit communications to or from thetraditional phone number and the unique global phone number if both theat least one local subscriber identification module 110 and the at leastone global subscriber identification module 112 are present in the atleast one means for accepting at least two subscriber identificationmodules; and prevent any communications to or from the unique globalphone number if the at least one local subscriber identification module110 is not present in the at least one means for accepting at least twosubscriber identification modules 108.

In some embodiments, at least one processor 102 may be any type ofprocessor, including a single or multi core processor. At least onedisplay 104 may be any display device, including, but not limited to, anelectronic display device, such as a liquid crystal display, a plasmadisplay, or a light emitting diode display. In some embodiments, atleast one display device 104 may comprise of a touch-screen. In someembodiments, display device 104 is electronically connected to processor102. In other embodiments, display device 104 is wirelessly connected toprocessor 104. In yet further embodiments, display device 104 mayinclude control or user input means, such as, but not limited to, atouch screen, a stylus, and the like.

At least one communications means 106 may be any type of communicationsmeans, including, but not limited to, a wireless communications means orwired communications means, such as a GSM modem, a WiFi module, aBluetooth module, a Zigbee module, and any other type of communicationsmeans used to communicate directly with another device, or indirectlywith another device, such as through a local or wide area network.

In yet another embodiment, system 100 may comprise at least one mobiledevice, which houses at least one processor 102, at least one displaydevice 104, and at least one communications means 106. The mobile devicemay be a mobile phone, a tablet PC, a mobile PC, a smart phone, or astandalone mobile device, and the like.

In yet another embodiment, at least one communications means 106comprises a communications means for accessing a cellular network, suchas a GSM network, a data network, such as a local data network, or awide area data network, such as the internet. In yet another embodiment,at least one communications means 106 comprises a communications meansfor accessing a web-enabled device, such as a Bluetooth module foraccessing a web-enabled smartphone.

In another embodiment, at least one means 108 for accepting at least twosubscriber identification modules may comprise a traditional subscriberidentification module (SIM) card tray, or multiple SIM card tray, suchas a dual-SIM card tray. In some embodiments, local and global SIM cards110, 112 may comprise traditional SIM cards, micro SIM cards, nano SIMcards, or any other type of subscriber identification module known inthe art.

In some embodiments, at least one processor 102 is connected to orintegrated into a mobile communications device, such as a mobile phone.In some embodiments, the computer executable instructions may be storedlocally, in whole or in part, such as in the mobile communicationsdevice. In other embodiments, the computer executable instructions maybe stored remotely, in whole or in part, such as in a central station.The central station may be a cellular telephone/data service provider.The computer executable instructions may take the form of a downloadableapplication, such as, but not limited to a mobile application.

In some embodiments, a user may be provided with at least one local orglobal SIM card, as well as access to a downloadable application. Inanother embodiment, the user may be provided access, or rights topurchase, the downloadable application, and upon purchasing,downloading, or accessing the application, may be provided a localand/or global SIM card.

In some embodiments, the traditional phone number comprises atraditional already existing country code, area code, and city number.The unique global phone number comprises a new unique telephone number,which is not assigned to any country, region, state, or city. By havingsuch as new and unique telephone number, a user of said telephone numbermay benefit from privacy protection and identity theft protection,because their place of residency may not be ascertained. Furthermore, byhaving both a local phone number and a unique global phone number, auser of said phone numbers may use the permanent local phone number whenresiding in a home territory, and may use the permanent unique globalphone number when traveling abroad. A user of said telephone numbers maygive their local number to people they trust, while at the same timebeing able to give untrusted contacts the unique global phone number,which is untraceable and not tied to any sensitive information, such asbank accounts, credit card accounts, passports, and the like. Oftentimes while traveling abroad, identities are stolen. By being able toprovide a unique telephone number that is not tied to any sensitiveaccounts or data, the likelihood of identity theft occurring islessened.

Furthermore, by requiring that both the local SIM card 110 and theglobal SIM card 112 be present in order to use system 100 tocommunicate, a user is authenticated and security is heightened.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a system 300 is shown in accordance with oneembodiment, wherein system 300 comprises at least one first mobilecommunications device 302 operative to connect to a globalcommunications network 304 via a local wireless communications network306, at least one second mobile communications device 308 operative toconnect to a mobile communications network 310, and at least one homebase station 312 operative to connect to global communications network304, and to connect to second mobile communications device 308.

In one embodiment, at least one first mobile communications device 302comprises any type of mobile communications device, such as a mobilephone, a smartphone, a tablet PC, a laptop PC and the like, includingbut not limited to an international mobile phone. In another embodiment,at least one second mobile communications device 308 comprises any typeof mobile communications device, such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, atablet PC, a laptop PC and the like, including but not limited to adomestic mobile phone.

In some embodiments a user may take first mobile communications device302 with them on an international trip, while leaving second mobilecommunications device 308 at home, connected to home base station 312.Accordingly, home base station 312 may be operative to connect to orreceive second mobile communications device 308, such as by docking withdevice 308 or connecting with device 308 wirelessly, such as throughBluetooth® or WiFi, or through a wired connection, such as a USBconnection. In a further embodiment, first mobile communications device302 may be operative to connect to home base station 312 via globalcommunications network 304.

In some embodiments, global communications network 304 may comprise theworld-wide-web or the internet. Local wireless communications network306 may comprise a WiFi network supplied by a WiFi or other wirelessnetwork router 314. Home base station 312 and router 314 may beconnected to global network 304 via a modem, such as a cable modem, asatellite modem, a GSM modem, a DSL modem, and the like.

In another embodiment, first mobile communications device 302 may beoperative to communicate with second mobile communications device 308via global communications network 304 and home base station 312. In someembodiments, any or all of the features of first mobile communicationsdevice 302 may be deactivated (as in restricted or prohibited). This mayinclude calling functions over cellular phone networks, data transfer,and the like. In one embodiment, first mobile communications device 302may be activated by communicating with second mobile communicationsdevice 308. This may be done when the user enters a foreign country.

In yet another embodiment, first mobile communications device 302 may beoperative to send or receive communications, such as voice, text,audio-visual, or data communications by connecting to local wirelesscommunications network 306, accessing global communications network 304via local wireless communications network 306, connecting to home basestation 312 via global communications network 304, connecting to secondmobile communications device 308 via home base station 312, accessingmobile communications network 310 via mobile communications device 308,and using mobile communications network 310 to send or receive acommunication. Mobile communications network 310 may comprise a cellularcommunications network, such as a GSM or CDMA network. Accordingly,second mobile communications device 308 serves as a proxy to firstmobile communications device 302 in accessing or connecting to mobilecommunications network 310. In a further embodiment, control of secondmobile communications device 308 may be remotely controlled throughfirst mobile communications device 302.

In one embodiment, a user of first mobile communications device 302 maybe assessed a fee for accessing local wireless communications network306. In some embodiments, the fee may be assessed by atelecommunications provider, which may be foreign, such as a cellularphone service provider, and the like. Accordingly, the local wirelesscommunications 306 network may be provided by such a telecommunicationsprovider.

In accordance with one embodiment, at least one first mobilecommunications device 302 may be associated with at least one firsttelephone number, which may be an international number. In anotherembodiment, at least one second mobile communications device 308 may beassociated with at least one second telephone number, which may be adomestic number.

The various systems and methods described herein may be used tofacilitate a user by allowing them to connect their domesticcommunications device to a home base, and connect to that domesticcommunications device using an international communications device overa global communications network.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a block diagram depicting a method 400 is shownin accordance with one embodiment, wherein method 400 may comprise usingat least one processor to perform any or all of the following steps:determining whether at least one local subscriber identification moduleand at least one global subscriber identification module are present inat least one means for accepting at least two subscriber identificationmodules, wherein the at least one local subscriber identification moduleis assigned to a traditional phone number and the at least one globalsubscriber identification module is assigned to a unique global phonenumber (block 402), using at least one communications means to receiveor transmit communications to or from the traditional phone number andthe unique global phone number if both the at least one local subscriberidentification module and the at least one global subscriberidentification module are present in the at least one means foraccepting at least two subscriber identification modules (block 404),and preventing any communications to or from the unique global phonenumber if the at least one local subscriber identification module is notpresent in the at least one means for accepting at least two subscriberidentification modules (block 406).

In some embodiments, the at least one processor may be part of orintegrated into a mobile communications device, such as, but not limitedto, a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet PC, a laptop, and the like.

In some embodiments, using at least one processor comprises usingcomputer executable instructions readable by the at least one processor.In some embodiments, the computer executable instructions may be stored,in whole or in part, remotely, such as on a server or central station,or locally, such as on a local non-transitory (or transitory) computerreadable medium, wherein the local storage means may be connected to,part of, or integrated with the at least one processor and/or the mobiledevice. In some embodiments, the central station may be a cellulartelephone/data service provider. The computer executable instructionsmay take the form of a downloadable application, such as, but notlimited to a mobile application.

In some embodiments, a user may be provided with at least one local orglobal SIM card, as well as access to a downloadable application. Inanother embodiment, the user may be provided access, or rights topurchase, the downloadable application, and upon purchasing,downloading, or accessing the application, may be provided a localand/or global SIM card.

In some embodiments, method 400 may implement or be a part of thevarious embodiments of systems and methods described herein, such asthose described above with reference to FIGS. 1 through 3.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a block diagram depicting a non-transitorycomputer readable medium 500 is shown in accordance with one embodiment,wherein computer readable medium 500 may comprise computer executableinstructions 502 readable by at least one processor 504 and operative toperform any or all of the following steps or functions: determiningwhether at least one local subscriber identification module and at leastone global subscriber identification module are present in at least onemeans for accepting at least two subscriber identification modules,wherein the at least one local subscriber identification module isassigned to a traditional phone number and the at least one globalsubscriber identification module is assigned to a unique global phonenumber, using at least one communications means to receive or transmitcommunications to or from the traditional phone number and the uniqueglobal phone number if both the at least one local subscriberidentification module and the at least one global subscriberidentification module are present in the at least one means foraccepting at least two subscriber identification modules, and preventingany communications to or from the unique global phone number if the atleast one local subscriber identification module is not present in theat least one means for accepting at least two subscriber identificationmodules.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor 504 may be part of orintegrated into a mobile communications device. In some embodiments, themobile communications device may comprise a mobile phone, a tablet PC, asmartphone, a laptop, and the like.

In one embodiment, the computer executable instructions 502 may bestored, in whole or in part, remotely, such as in a server or centralstation, or locally, such as in the mobile communications device. Insome embodiments, the central station may comprise any type of centralstation, such as those described above with reference to FIGS. 1 through4.

Non-transitory computer readable medium 500 may comprise any typenon-transitory computer readable medium, such as, but not limited to, ahard drive, a flash drive, a solid state drive, computer memory, acompact disc, a DVD, and the like. Computer readable medium 500 maycomprise any of the various embodiments described herein, such as thosedescribed with reference to FIGS. 1 through 4.

In some embodiments, computer executable instructions 502 may comprisethe various embodiments of computer executable instructions describedherein, such as those described above with reference to FIGS. 1-4.Computer executable instructions 502 may be part of, used in, or beincluded in the various systems and methods described herein.

Hardware and Operating Environment

This section provides an overview of example hardware and the operatingenvironments in conjunction with which embodiments of the inventivesubject matter can be implemented. A software program may be launchedfrom a computer readable medium in a computer-based system to executethe functions defined in the software program. Various programminglanguages may be employed to create software programs designed toimplement the system 100 disclosed herein. The programs may bestructured in an object-orientated format using an object-orientedlanguage such as Java or C++. Alternatively the programs may bestructured in a procedure-oriented format using a procedural language,such as assembly or C. The software components may communicate using anumber of mechanisms, such as application program interfaces, orinter-process communication techniques, including remote procedurecalls. The teachings of various embodiments are not limited to anyparticular programming language or environment. Thus, other embodimentsmay be realized, as discussed regarding FIG. 2 below.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram representing an apparatus 200 according tovarious embodiments. Such embodiments may comprise a computer, a memorysystem, a magnetic or optical disk, some other storage device, or anytype of electronic device or system. The apparatus 200 may include oneor more processor(s) 202 coupled to a machine-accessible medium such asa memory 204 (e.g., a memory including electrical, optical, orelectromagnetic elements). The medium may contain associated information206 (e.g., computer program instructions, data, or both) which, whenaccessed, results in a machine (e.g., the processor(s) 202) performingthe activities previously described herein.

The principles of the present disclosure may be applied to all types ofcomputers, systems, and the like, include desktop computers, servers,notebook computers, personal digital assistants, microcomputers, and thelike. However, the present disclosure may not be limited to the personalcomputer.

While the principles of the disclosure have been described herein, it isto be understood by those skilled in the art that this description ismade only by way of example and not as a limitation as to the scope ofthe disclosure. Other embodiments are contemplated within the scope ofthe present disclosure in addition to the exemplary embodiments shownand described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinaryskill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the presentdisclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a. at least one processor;b. at least one communications means electronically connected to the atleast one processor, wherein said at least one communications means isoperative to connect to a wireless communications network; c. at leastone means for accepting at least two subscriber identification modules;and d. computer executable instructions readable by the at least oneprocessor, and operative to: i. determine whether at least one localsubscriber identification module and at least one global subscriberidentification module are present in the at least one means foraccepting at least two subscriber identification modules, wherein the atleast one local subscriber identification module is assigned to atraditional phone number and the at least one global subscriberidentification module is assigned to a unique global phone number; ii.receive or transmit communications to or from the traditional phonenumber and the unique global phone number if both the at least one localsubscriber identification module and the at least one global subscriberidentification module are present in the at least one means foraccepting at least two subscriber identification modules; and iii.prevent any communications to or from the unique global phone number ifthe at least one local subscriber identification module is not presentin the at least one means for accepting at least two subscriberidentification modules.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at leastone processor is part of or integrated into a mobile communicationsdevice.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the mobile communicationsdevice is a mobile phone.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the computerexecutable instructions are stored, in whole or in part, locally.
 5. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the computer executable instructions arestored, in whole or in part, remotely.
 6. The system of claim 5, whereinthe computer executable instructions are remotely stored, in whole or inpart, in a central station.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein thecomputer executable instructions comprise a downloadable application. 8.A method comprising: a. using at least one processor to perform any orall of the following steps: i. determining whether at least one localsubscriber identification module and at least one global subscriberidentification module are present in at least one means for accepting atleast two subscriber identification modules, wherein the at least onelocal subscriber identification module is assigned to a traditionalphone number and the at least one global subscriber identificationmodule is assigned to a unique global phone number; ii. using at leastone communications means to receive or transmit communications to orfrom the traditional phone number and the unique global phone number ifboth the at least one local subscriber identification module and the atleast one global subscriber identification module are present in the atleast one means for accepting at least two subscriber identificationmodules; and iii. preventing any communications to or from the uniqueglobal phone number if the at least one local subscriber identificationmodule is not present in the at least one means for accepting at leasttwo subscriber identification modules.
 9. The method of claim 8, whereinthe at least one processor is part of or integrated into a mobilecommunications device.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the mobilecommunications device is a mobile phone.
 11. The method of claim 8,wherein using at least one processor comprises using computer executableinstructions readable by the at least one processor.
 12. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the computer executable instructions are stored, inwhole or in part, remotely or locally.
 13. The system of claim 11,wherein the computer executable instructions are remotely stored, inwhole or in part, in a central station.
 14. The system of claim 11,wherein the computer executable instructions comprise a downloadableapplication.
 15. The system of claim 11, further comprising allowing atleast one user to download a set of computer executable instructionsreadable by the at least one processor.
 16. The system of claim 11,further comprising providing at least one user with the least one globalsubscriber identification module, or the at least one local subscriberidentification module.
 17. A non-transitory computer readable mediumcomprising: a. computer executable instructions readable by at least oneprocessor and operative to perform any or all of the following steps orfunctions: i. determining whether at least one local subscriberidentification module and at least one global subscriber identificationmodule are present in at least one means for accepting at least twosubscriber identification modules, wherein the at least one localsubscriber identification module is assigned to a traditional phonenumber and the at least one global subscriber identification module isassigned to a unique global phone number; ii. using at least onecommunications means to receive or transmit communications to or fromthe traditional phone number and the unique global phone number if boththe at least one local subscriber identification module and the at leastone global subscriber identification module are present in the at leastone means for accepting at least two subscriber identification modules;and iii. preventing any communications to or from the unique globalphone number if the at least one local subscriber identification moduleis not present in the at least one means for accepting at least twosubscriber identification modules.
 18. The method of claim 17, whereinthe at least one processor is part of or integrated into a mobilecommunications device.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the mobilecommunications device is a mobile phone.
 20. The method of claim 17,wherein the computer executable instructions are stored, in whole or inpart, remotely or locally.